Living Proof’s inception began in the science community: one half of its founding team is Dr. Daniel Anderson, a Professor at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, specializing in nanotherapeutics and biomaterials. Given Living Proof’s current roster of 20 unique formulation patents, it's evident that the haircare brand remains eager to expand on its research. Case in point: its involvement in the annual Solve Initiative with MIT.

Solve offers open innovation challenges in order to champion tech-based social entrepreneurs worldwide through the MIT community. These challenges are presented in four categories: Re-engaging Learners, Care Economy, Equitable Health Systems, and Climate (Ecosystems + Housing). To date, the initiative has raised over $50 million in funding for its selected innovators, with a two-day event, Solve at MIT 2022, celebrating the results planned for May of this year. Living Proof CEO Zach Rieken will be involved firsthand as part of MIT’s Challenge Leadership Group, which supports MIT Solve participants and initiatives.

Since only 27% of the STEM workforce are women, Living Proof and MIT are also hoping to make positive changes on this statistic through a dedicated prize. Living Proof is offering four women-led teams across the initiative up to $100,000 in grants, specifically focusing on solutions for sustainability, health, learning, and economic prosperity. “With a special interest in women-led innovation, Living Proof sought a partnership that gave back to communities globally in a variety of ways, including through education and sustainability while simultaneously harkening back to the institution that helped birth the brand,” Living Proof states. It’s a testament to the company’s mantra, “rooted in innovation”, reaching far beyond the product bottle.